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Reaper stalked me.
He’d already fucked me twice and still wanted more.
He really was a dream come true.
Whether it would morph into a nightmare or not, I didn’t have the willpower to say no.
“Fine.” I tried to sound bored even though I was decidedly not. If he could hear my heart, he’d have been calling me out so fast.
Instead, he held his hand up and stepped back. “Don’t be so excited; I might get scared off. I can’t handle it when girls throw themselves at me like this.”
I laughed. “I doubt it.”
“Just… calm down.” His voice was low as he inched close again. So close I could smell the spicy sandalwood and chili pepper aroma of his skin. “I’ll pick you up after work. We’ll see how it goes.”
My mouth running dry, I swallowed. “That’s ominous. Wait… tonight?”
He lifted an eyebrow. “Oh, am I too impulsive for you? Are you a planner? Pencil me in for next Tuesday instead?”
I gasped at his joke for twelve-year-old boys, but it still cracked me up.See you next Tuesday, or C.U.N.T. “So you’re a stalker and an asshole. It seems you are my type after all. My mistake. Sign me up!” I wanted to slap the smirk off his face, then let himpunish me for it.
Good goddess, what am I getting myself into?
His chuckle weakened my knees yet again. The dude was completely undaunted by my sharp sass. He cocked his head and licked his delectable lips. I could almost taste them already. “Sweet. See you later, then, monstre.”
He shoved the flowers at me, and when I took them, he blew a fucking kiss at me, then spun around and swaggered away. “Atropos help me,” I muttered, marching into the kitchen for something to put the flowers in.
It wasn’t until I’d found and begun to fill a jug of water for the flowers that it hit me.
I couldn’t date this guy.
What was I thinking?
He was bad news, and I had no experience with healthy relationships. Of course I was swooning over him. I was a broken and soiled doll, which was probably why he wanted me. He was a predator, too, as much as Ivan was, and he saw right through me.
My airways tightened at the realization, and I braced myself against the counter. It took a few minutes of slow breathing, trying to restore some kind of inner calm, before I could think straight again.
I’d have to send him away when he showed up. It would be awkward, but getting involved in any way was such a bad idea.
I set the flowers down and admired how they brightened the room.
Then again. One date. One night with him. Who would that hurt? I’d tell Maverick I couldn’t see him again after, and he’d understand. He’d have to.
Chapter Thirty-Nine: Eternal Ashes
Tess
At the shop, Iset up the coffeemaker and settled into my routine. The aroma of my coffee mingled with the faint smell of the ink and antiseptic that always permeated the shop. Morning light filtered through the front window, flooding my workspace with a golden glow. I took a moment to savor the calm before the day’s churn.
Sitting at Ivan’s cluttered desk—now my desk—I sorted through the mail, bills, advertisements, and a few thank you cards from clients. However, an envelope from a company I hadn’t seen before caught my eye. The plain, white envelope was addressed to Ivan at Empire Decay Ink. Curiosity piqued, I carefully ripped it open, the paper crinklingunder my fingers.
“What’s this?” I muttered.
“Probably a summons,” replied Oscar.
I shushed him as I slipped the paper out of the envelope. My brow furrowed as I scanned the information. “Well, this is new.” It was something I’d never heard anything of at all.
“What is it, woman?”
